A circular issued by the State Directorate of Technical Education (DTE), which clearly states that the affiliation granted to professional colleges by respective universities subject to certain terms and conditions will not be acceptable for the centralised admission process (CAP), has not gone down well with the management of educational institutes.

Fearing that the proposed decision will reduce the number of eligible colleges taking part in CAP, managements have cautioned that it would cause unrest among the student community.

The circular, dated May 20, has been issued against the backdrop of orders from the Aurangabad bench of Bombay High Court while disposing of certain petitions.

The affiliation issue for 2014-15 relates to admissions for engineering, pharmacy, architecture and management among other professional courses, which has thousands of takers every year across Maharashtra. As per DTE orders, the colleges will have to submit the necessary affiliation along with affidavit for CAP participation latest by May 30. Dr Gajanan Ekbote, chairman of Progressive Education Society, in a letter addressed to the University of Pune, has sought its intervention in withdrawing the implementation of DTE circular.

“Considering together the key provisions of Maharashtra Universities Act 1994 and the judgment delivered by the high court, the May 20 circular of DTE is not legally valid. In fact, the circular is contradictory to provisions of Act and court order itself,” he alleged.

“Nowhere in the judgement is it mentioned that affiliation with certain terms and conditions will not be acceptable. It clearly states that if the university grants affiliation, students admitted by the colleges shall be permitted to appear for examination,” he added.

Ekbote has drawn attention to related provisions of the Maharashtra Universities Act 1994, as per which, he says, the Academic Council of universities are the final authority to grant affiliation to colleges.

Managements of different professional colleges said around 90 per cent colleges would be automatically out of the CAP for 2014-15 if the DTE goes ahead with implementation of its circular. “Those from reserved category will also suffer as they would not be able to get government scholarship if denied admission to professional colleges through CAP, and get in at their level,” they said.

College managements have accused University of Pune (UoP) for failing to make colleges aware about the proposed rules of DTE related to affiliation, which was shared with the varsities at the end of last year.

UoP vice-chancellor Wasudeo Gade said joint consultations by all stakeholders, including universities, DTE, college managements and state government, would help in resolving the latest issue pertaining to affiliation of professional colleges. “The affiliation process is a complex one. It has involvement of the state government also. It is not possible to carry out desired affiliation of continued…